HDL vs LDL
As I posted in my journal earlier tonight, I got the results back from recent blood work. I am pleased to say that everything was exactly where it should be.
What I am most pleased about probably is the fact that my HDL is actually higher than my LDL cholesterol! 73 for HDL and 72 for LDL.
I truly believe this is because of my largely plant based diet. For those not familiar, I am a pescetarian. But, I would say that my servings of animal protein come out to only about 7-8 a week. 1 serving of seafood, 1 serving of eggs, and perhaps 5-6 dairy each week.
I have a *ton* of fiber, lots of whole grains, good variety of organic fruits and veggies. And, while it is unusual for a PT, I do not take any supplements. I do have a B complex vitamin that I take maybe once a week, but just started doing that recently. No other added chemically produced vitamins or extracted oils or anything else, just good whole foods.
:D
So the moral is - go plant foods! :D
Uh, I eat red meat 4-5 days a week, poultry almost every day, and fish once or twice a week, and my LDL is 49 and my HDL is 86 (total cholesterol is 126).
Your logic is flawed. Cholesterol is more hereditary than anything else. I'm not saying plant foods are bad, but you can eat red meat and still have good cholesterol. I eat plants and whole grains every single day on top of all the meat.
Frankly dm84, the only illogic here is the fact that a meat eater keeps coming into the vegetarian forum to defend the health benefits of meat. I sincerely doubt anyone in this forum is going to start eating meat just because your cholesterol is satisfactory.
I posted this in the vegetarian forum for a specific reason. What is your reason lately for looking up veg forum posts so you can proselytize for meat comsumption?
Where on earth did I mention the health benefits of eating meat in this thread? Where in this thread did I suggest people in this forum start eating meat?
You made it seem like being vegetarian is the only thing responsible for having low cholesterol. All I said is it's possible to have low cholesterol, even with frequent meat consumption. I'm not sure why that statement bothers you so much, or how that qualifies as proselytization.
When I was in my twenties my reading were a lot different then they are now.
I am not saying that meat is bad for you or good for you, but this being a vegetarian forum I would never bring up the subject. This would be very disrespect of me.
yes... go plant foods! 
This page: http://www.helpusall.com/foodandhealth.html has info on other health benefits of incorporating more plant foods into your diet and doesn't push veganism or vegetarianism like some others do.
I thought this was interesting...
"Even when body weights were similar between subjects, vegetarians had lower blood pressures."
They cite their sources, if you're interested.
I can't wait to have health insurance again, I haven't had my blood work done in about 2 years and I'm anxious to see how everything checks out. Thankfully last time everything was right on track, but I had only been vegan for about 3 months at that point.
Spoiled, thats not true; cholesterol is dynamic (at least the measured quantities). The HDL is a scavenger of VLDL's, the LDL is the stuff that deposits on your artieries (this is an oversimplification, obviously).
Basically you can think of the HDL, LDL, and VLDL (there are also triglycerides to consider too) as small chemicals that concentrate based on your body's absorbtion and production of them. The VLDL comes in, is converted to LDL as it enhances, eventually starting the process of deposition into the arteries. The HDL scavenges and returns the lipids to the liver for processing and excretion out of the body in bile.
You dont "build up" LDL over time, per se. You can have horrible LDL at a young age.
HOWEVER, this also has little to do with meat consumpton... but there is a BUT!
Meat does provide cholesterol and fats (which become triglycerides and fats), but so do non meat ingredients. Plants, though, provide sterols (which remove "bad" fats from the body by sticking to them) and fiber (also removes some fats and cholesterol by absorbtion). Plant materials are much higher in these fibers than meat; and sterols are not present in meat. Nor are many of the phytonutrients seen in plants ever present in meats.
You can increase your LDL in many ways, either diet (increasing cholesterol intake) or sedentary lifestyle (downregulation of HDL and decreased excretion/utilization despite HDL). Exercise (and low doses of ethanol... drinking alcoholic beverages...) increases HDL which in effect blunts the effect of LDL in the body by scavenging it up. Some doctors use the HDL:LDL ratio as a predictor of heart disease risk instead of total LDL. i use both.
But the BIGGEST contributor to LDL is something you cant change... genetics.
FYI: vegetarians DO have lower blood pressure on average than people who consume "american' portions of RED meats.
I've read those studies too, but when you correct for sodium intake the difference becomes negligible and statistically insignificant.
Vegetarians also have shorter lifespans when compared to persons who consume moderate amounts of white meat and fish. Also only to a mild extent.
No situation is perfect. We could cite sources all day (i have a book of them) supporting meat consumption in moderation versus pure vegan diets (even some on vegetarianism being superior, also lacto-ovo veg's being superior, and about a handfull that support high red meat consumption... we could go on all day)
citing sources doesnt provide validity, but it shows us only that there are many sides to this equation, none of which are 100% correct or will work for everyone.
Not speaking as a moderator here, but speaking as a member...
This was a brag post. You know, those things that people post on this board when they want to hear someone tell them 'congrats, job well done'. Considering I lost 60 pounds last year and have completely overhauled my lifestyle, I am pretty proud of ALL of my test results. Yes, I wanted to highlight my cholesterol in particular. And I wanted to point out why I believe my results were so good, in case anyone asked.
I certainly had no intention of starting a debate about whether or not meat consumption leads to higher cholesterol.
Is it too much to ask that this be like anyone else's normal brag post? :) Pretty please? :D
It is so motivating and powerful when you get medical results that showcase how your lifestyle choices are impacting your over all health - we always get wrapped up in the number on the scale and the size of our jeans...living to a ripe old age with energy and vitality gets lost somewhere in the priorty list!! :)
Great job!! Proud of you!!
Congrats to you :)
I am suppose to get my cholesterol checked 'one of these days'.
I agree and don't take any supplements. Seems like that's the first thing ppl want to grab. I've been eating more beans, if that's what you meant by plant food, lately, only to increase fiber.
...And back to the issue at hand :) Congrats Jenn! What great results. Sounds like your healthy lifestyle is paying off for you. Agreed, that plant foods most likely contributed to your great cholesterol scores and the fact that you feel great.
Brag away lady, you deserve to :)
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